VEG 12 hours White light - 12 hours of Pure Red - 24 hours total VEG

RangiSTaxi

Well-Known Member
Im Bored, Time to experiment :

I want to veg some plants and get them to stretch a lot, as usually my plants are too compact and I have to defoliate the heck out of them.

(yes I could change my Potassium/Nitrogen nutrient ratios and raising my light but dont want too, I like running my light close and having Potassium/ Nitrogen levels at least 1:1 in Veg)

My Plan is to veg the Plants 12 hours white light (hlg 550, full power 3500K) then 12 hours of Pure Red 30 watt, HLG 550 turned off , i.e 24 hours lights on veg.

One reason is I have free power via solar panels for 12 hours to drive the HLGs.

I plan on not tipping (topping) and tie down the main stem of each plant along a horizontal wire. before flowering.

So my question is will the reds be enough to stop them flowering, I have 10 reds and 2 far reds (12 in total at 30 watts total ) (Cutter) SSK-1560-730_660 per each HLG 550. ( tent sizes are 4 x 4 and 3 x 3) If in mid grow I get too much stretch ill just increase the hours of the HLG 550 and reduce the red hours.

But will the reds be enough to stop them flowering?

If not Ill throw a hour of light from the HLG 550s in the middle of the red period, Like the Gas lantern method does in the dark period.
 
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Renfro

Well-Known Member
The red during the "dark" period will prevent flowering IMO. Let us know how the experiment goes. Prove me wrong.
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
To get stretch you wand a low red to far red ratio. So decreasing the red spectrum in your white light and/or adding far red.
 

RangiSTaxi

Well-Known Member
To get stretch you wand a low red to far red ratio. So decreasing the red spectrum in your white light and/or adding far red.
I think ill get Stretch alright, on wattage drop alone , from over 500 plus watts for 12 hours to just 30 watts for 12 hours. in a 24 hour period. if i get too much stretch, its easy to control to the exact growth parameters I want, via light or nutrients. will be interesting. If they show any signs of trying to flower Ill throw a hour of white light in the middle of the red period.but that HLG 550 might hermie them with the sudden intensity ,so will just run a soft white 150 watt CFL for a hour instead if it comes to that.
 
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cheekah

New Member
I new a guy on eBay who sold bulbs he vegged with hps and flowered with it... I veg with blue... May switch to a dual soon could do with a little stretch myself
 

Renfro

Well-Known Member
I have vegged with HPS to get big stretchy plants on purpose. Works great. Flowering with metal halide for blue can get some extreme quality from all the UV and the blue spectrum will make for dense nugs although smaller than HPS. Little hit in harvest weight but perhaps resin content overall is the sameish...
 

RangiSTaxi

Well-Known Member
The reason I have no stretch is slightly higher potassium levels than nitrogen, from veg to flower, that ratio builds strong wide stems from very young plants and im heavy on the silica and kelp. with a 10 day veg i finish with a 3 cm trunk, in 65 -85 days from seedling to harvest in a 15cm deep tray..., depending on variety...but its time to try something a bit different.

I have ordered some air pots 4 x 7 gallon 26 litres pots for the 4x4 tent and a 20 gallon , 76 litres for the 3x3 tent

I might have to top, still haven't worked it out yet, as waiting for current grows to finish, might even scrog.
 
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RangiSTaxi

Well-Known Member
Im Bored, Time to experiment :

I want to veg some plants and get them to stretch a lot, as usually my plants are too compact and I have to defoliate the heck out of them.

(yes I could change my Potassium/Nitrogen nutrient ratios and raising my light but dont want too, I like running my light close and having Potassium/ Nitrogen levels at least 1:1 in Veg)

My Plan is to veg the Plants 12 hours white light (hlg 550, full power 3500K) then 12 hours of Pure Red 30 watt, HLG 550 turned off , i.e 24 hours lights on veg.

One reason is I have free power via solar panels for 12 hours to drive the HLGs.

I plan on not tipping (topping) and tie down the main stem of each plant along a horizontal wire. before flowering.

So my question is will the reds be enough to stop them flowering, I have 10 reds and 2 far reds (12 in total at 30 watts total ) (Cutter) SSK-1560-730_660 per each HLG 550. ( tent sizes are 4 x 4 and 3 x 3) If in mid grow I get too much stretch ill just increase the hours of the HLG 550 and reduce the red hours.

But will the reds be enough to stop them flowering?

If not Ill throw a hour of light from the HLG 550s in the middle of the red period, Like the Gas lantern method does in the dark period.
UPDATE:

Ok, Im stunned by the rapid growth, 12 hours white light HLG 550 running at 380 watts for 12 hours, 30 watt red for 12 Hours in Veg Total 24 hours light (from seed)

Not as much stretch as I expected, but more than normal for me, but incredibly explosive growth from the seedlings.

New basic garden centre potting mix , no added nutrients.

Power Savings Have been Huge. Around 14 Days after Germination

IMG_20191102_201342.jpg
Those Leaves are Huge 3x3 Tent. Dialed the HLG 550s down due to high heat, its Summer here.

76 Litre Air Pot

Im calling this New veg method 12 hours low wattage RED , 12 hours White Light the:

Torr Veg Method

A Great Power Saving Method
IMG_20191102_210153.jpg
IMG_20191102_211314.jpgIMG_20191102_211049.jpg
Torr Veg Method

A Great Power Saving Method
 
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